Monday, March 26, 2007
Luke 1:38, 22:41-42 "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her . . . He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."
THE WILL OF GOD IS ALWAYS BEST
Is it too early to be thinking about Christmas? Yesterday was March 25th, nine months before our celebration of Christmas, and the day on which Christians remember Gabriel's visit to Mary and the announcement that she would be the mother of the Savior.
It was an amazing announcement. The angel told her that she would give birth to the Son of the Most High. He would be great and would be King forever and ever. But just as stunning as the announcement was Mary's reaction to it. She answered, "May it be to me as you have said." She didn't argue or suggest that God could not accomplish what He said. Rather she bowed in humble faith before God's will for her life.
What moved her to such faith? Was it not the gospel of Christ that was laid out so clearly before her? Here was the good news that the Messiah was coming who would save His people from their sins. She was not going to stand in the way of that.
The Child was born, as you know, and as He grew older He also grew closer to Calvary. Finally, one evening He was in a garden with His disciples and He prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."
The phrase was similar to His mother's some 30 years before. Jesus too had received word of the Father's will for His life. Like Mary, He also bowed in humble faith, willing that things should happen as God had said. And like Mary had seen, He also saw the glory of the gospel's salvation before His very eyes, giving Him the strength to continue in the face of such agony.
What about you? What moves you to pray, "May it be to me as you have said . . . Not my will, but yours be done"? Is it not the fact that the gospel is before your eyes too? You too can see His gracious plan for you -- to take you to heaven where you will live with Him forever.
Yes, Father, please have your way in my life too. Amen.
